Business Owner Fights Back Against Credit Card Scam

An Australian entrepreneur has decided to take action after discovering a customer attempting to steal $315 worth of clothing through a common credit card scam technique.

Marisa Taschke, 37, explained to a news site that a fraudster attempted to use a “chargeback” scam on her Lullaby Club brand. This scam involves a buyer disputing a valid purchase with their bank to keep the product and get their money back.

“Most of the time, I don’t even bother gathering evidence for the shopping platform because, honestly, you rarely win,” she shared. But this situation pushed her over the edge. “It had been quite a week, and I thought, ‘Not today, Satan,’” she noted.

Taschke launched her fashion label with her mother, focusing on relaxed and functional pieces. Her experience during pregnancy and early motherhood fueled her desire to create comfortable yet stylish clothing. With over 220,000 followers on Instagram, her brand has gained a solid presence. Determined to tackle the scam, she took it upon herself to investigate the order.

A quick Google search of the shipping address revealed it was directed to the customer’s workplace. So, Taschke called the business and informed them of the fraudulent order.

When confronted, the customer was reportedly “shocked.” “I told her that if we couldn’t resolve this today, we might have to escalate it. A chargeback is essentially theft if you keep the item,” Taschke said. “I warned her about potentially involving the police at her workplace, which could be pretty embarrassing.”

Just ten minutes later, the customer called back in tears. “She claimed she couldn’t cancel the chargeback because it was her father’s card and it was a mistake, but she promised to pay,” Taschke recounted.

Taschke then sent an invoice for the original order and an additional $17.50 in business penalties, which the customer quickly paid.

Revelations Uncovered

But the story didn’t end there. Taschke soon found out the same customer had previously attempted a similar scam on another brand mid-2023, this time for about $175. “It seems like her story about it being her father’s card was just an act,” she mentioned.

Moreover, Taschke said the customer emailed her later, admitting she had lied. “She said, ‘It’s changed,’ but I was skeptical since she had filed a chargeback just days prior,” Taschke remarked.

She even reached out to the scammer on TikTok, issuing a firm warning: “If you’re watching this, we know what you’re doing. It’s terrible.”

Widespread Issue

Taschke believes that fraud of this kind is becoming more prevalent. She has received numerous messages from other business owners sharing similar experiences, some involving substantial amounts like $700. “Some reported attempts to reclaim physical vacations or back rent, which is just outrageous,” she said.

Her experience highlights larger issues regarding how banks handle fraudulent claims. “The system currently favors customers, making it far too easy for dishonest individuals to exploit,” she explained.

Importantly, Taschke stresses the human cost of such fraud. “There are real lives behind small businesses,” she emphasized. “When incidents like this happen, the repercussions are felt directly by the business owners, not just by faceless corporations.”